European castles as prisons: the Tower of London (London, 1100–1941)
Record: the document says itPattern: documents line upLens: our readingOpen: not yet proven
Year: 1100 · Places: Europe
SUMMARYEuropean castles as prisons: the Tower of London (London, 1100–1941) [Connections: Masonic color line, asylums, castles, wight, Nov 5, 2026]
RECORDBishop Ranulf Flambard was imprisoned in the Tower by 1100 and "was also the first person to escape from it," on 2 February 1101. "Holding prisoners was originally an incidental role of the Tower"; the 16th and 17th centuries were "the castle's zenith as a prison." "The last person to be executed at the Tower was German spy Josef Jakobs who was shot on 15 August 1941." Rudolf Hess was "the last state prisoner to be held at the castle," for four days in 1941
PATTERNThe European pattern was a royal fortress used as a state prison. The American forts in this section follow it: Castillo/Marion, Pickens, Jefferson and Alcatraz
LENS (WW9)The castle-as-cage came over with the colonizers
OPENOther European castles turned prisons (France, Spain) need sources. None were verified this session